Thomas Palmer Jr.

Thomas Palmer Jr.

Washington

Thomas Palmer Jr., age 90, of Washington, Iowa, passed away Thursday, December 21, 2023, at the Washington County Hospital after failing in health for the past three months.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 28, 2023, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home with services officiated by Mike Zahs. The family will be present to receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery. Memorials have been established for Paws and More Animal Shelter. Online condolences may be sent for Tom’s family at www.jonesfh.com.

Tom was born January 18, 1933, in Richland, Iowa, the son of Thomas and Mary Esther (Townsley) Palmer. Tom attended the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs, Iowa, from the age of 4 until he graduated in 1951. He was united in marriage to Joan Lukavsky on November 6, 1954, in Washington, Iowa.

Tom lived in Washington, Iowa, all of his adult life. He worked at the American Pearl Button Factory and a local Ford Dealership. Tom worked at the Washington Evening Journal for 32 years and was also a self-employed carpenter. He enjoyed building bird houses and replicas of historic Washington landmarks. He loved photography, doing landscape work in his yard and taking care of his flowers. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes Fan.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Palmer of Washington, Iowa; son, Thomas Joe Palmer and wife Jennifer of North Liberty, Iowa; daughter, Julie Ann Palmer of Avon Lake, Ohio; son, Timothy Mark Palmer of Washington, Iowa; six grandchildren: Jamie Palmer, Shawn Palmer, Stuart Louden, Breanna Palmer, Grant Palmer and Sarah Palmer; as well as nine great-grandchildren. Tom is also survived by two sisters, Karen Goodlaner of Taylor Falls, Minnesota, and Paula Entsminger and husband John of Washington, Iowa, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Ruth, Richard and Henry.